The Jalaur River for the People’s Movement (JRPM) denounced the opening of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project-Stage II (JRMP-II) on July 16 where Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was the guest of honor.

The JRPM called the dam an “impending disaster for the Ilonggos” and belied Marcos’ claim that it would be beneficial to the island. Marcos claimed that Panay will benefit from irrigation services, potable water and electricity generated by the dam.

Marcos’ boasted benefits are “far from reality,” JRPM said. It said the irrigation project targets sugarcane lands, not rice lands as Marcos claimed. The irrigation lines here are broken and dilapidated, which must first be repaired for farmers to benefit from the dam.

The group also denounced the huge ₱20 billion expense for the project, as its benefits are meager. The dam is very expensive compared to 11 other hydroelectric dams in Antique and Aklan that cost only ₱11 billion. The windfarm in Guimaras that produces 54 megawatts is only worth ₱7 billion. Thus, the 6.6 megawatts that the very expensive Jalaur Dam can generate is not cost-effective.

Instead of benefits, the dam will deliver disaster and widespread flooding. JRPM pointed to the experience of the people around the Moroboro Dam in Dingle which causes regular flooding in sorrounding towns. “When its floodgates are closed, Calinog, Passi, San Enrique, Duenas, and parts of Dingle are flooded. When they are open, some parts of Dingle, Pototan, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, Zarraga, Leganes, and parts of Iloilo City gets flooded.”

“We must also recall the massacre of nine Tumandok leaders and the detention of 16 others, mostly women,” the group said, refering to the so-called Tumandok massacre that took place on December 30, 2020. For more than a decade, the Tumandok people have opposed the Jalaur Dam because it will kill their livelihood, take away their ancestral land and trample on their rights.

“Justice remains elusive for the victims and their families. Instead, their communities have experienced bombings, forced surrenders, harassment, and disruption of peace.”

The group called on the public to prepare for the danger posed by the megadam, situated on the 10-kilometer active West Panay fault line. More importantly, it urged Ilonggos to oppose the dam, immediately stop its construction (currently 75% complete) and hold the state, Armed Forces of the Philippines and those who fund it accountable for its crimes against the Tumandok people.

Jalaur Dam II is located in the town of Calinog, Iloilo and is considered the largest dam outside of Luzon. Its construction is being financed by the government of the Philippines, the Economic Development Cooperation Fund of Korea and the Korean Export-Import (KEXIM) Bank.